The EFL Championship league is a fiercely competitive and physically demanding division within the English Football League system. Each Championship club participates in a total of 46 league games per season, making it one of the busiest schedules in European football.
Understanding the number of matches played and the league’s structure is crucial for grasping the challenges clubs face on their quest for promotion to the Premier League or to avoid relegation. This article provides an in-depth look at the Championship’s format, scheduling, and its place within the English football pyramid as of 2025.
What Is The EFL Championship?
The EFL Championship is the second tier of professional football in England and Wales, sitting directly below the Premier League and above League One. It was formed in 2004 as a rebranding of the former Football League First Division.
Since its inception, the Championship has maintained its reputation as one of the most competitive leagues in world football. It features clubs with rich histories, including former Premier League clubs such as Leeds United, West Bromwich Albion, and Burnley, all aiming to return to the top flight.
The league is known for its unpredictable nature, with different clubs winning the league title or securing promotion almost every season, reflecting the balance and quality across the division.
How Many Teams And Games Are In The League?
The Championship consists of 24 teams competing in a league season. Each team plays every other club twice: once at home and once away. This structure results in 46 matches per team every season.
The format means that over the course of the season, a total of 552 games are played across the league. This dense schedule is one of the highest in English professional football, demanding consistency and endurance from clubs.
Why Does Each Club Play 46 Matches?
The number 46 comes from the league structure: 24 teams each playing 23 opponents twice. This home-and-away format is a long-established tradition in the English football league system, ensuring fairness by balancing home advantage across the season.
Each match awards three points for a win and one point for a draw, with zero for a loss. At the end of the league season, teams are ranked by total points, with goal difference and goals scored used as tiebreakers when clubs finish level on points.
How Is The League Structure Organised?
The Championship is a part of the wider football league system in England and Wales, sitting directly below the Premier League and above EFL League One. The league operates on a system of promotion and relegation.
- The top two teams at the end of the 46-game season earn automatic promotion to the Premier League.
- Teams finishing from third to sixth enter the playoffs, a knockout competition to determine the third club promoted.
- The bottom three teams are relegated to League One.
This system keeps the competition intense right through to the final matchday, as clubs fight for promotion glory or battle to avoid relegation.
What Are The Play-Offs, And How Do They Work?
The Championship play-offs add an extra layer of excitement at the end of the season. Teams finishing third to sixth face off in semi-finals played over two legs (home and away). The winners meet in a one-off final at Wembley Stadium.
The play-off final is often described as the “richest game in football” due to the financial rewards of promotion to the Premier League. Clubs from the Championship have frequently used this opportunity to regain a place in the top flight or reach it for the first time.
How Does Promotion And Relegation Function?
At the end of the season:
- The top two clubs are automatically promoted to the Premier League.
- The winner of the play-off final also gains promotion.
- The bottom three teams are relegated to EFL League One, the third tier of English football.
This promotion and relegation process creates a dynamic league environment where clubs must perform well consistently to maintain their status or aim for advancement.
What Are The Statistical Outcomes From The 2024–25 Season?
The 2024–25 EFL Championship season witnessed intense competition, with clubs like Leeds United, Burnley, and Huddersfield Town among the frontrunners. The league saw an average attendance of over 20,000 spectators per match, highlighting its status as the best-supported second-tier league in Europe.
Statistically, clubs played a total of 552 games, scoring an average of 2.5 goals per match, showcasing an attacking style of football. The playoff semi-finals featured tight contests, with aggregate scores decided by narrow margins. The final league standings demonstrated the tight margins between teams, often decided by goal difference or just a single point.
How Does League Sponsorship Impact The Championship?
Since the 2016–17 season, the Championship has been known commercially as the Sky Bet Championship, following a sponsorship agreement with Sky Betting & Gaming. Sponsorship deals contribute significantly to the league’s financial health and global profile. Revenue from sponsorship helps fund club operations, broadcasting, and prize money, directly affecting the competitive balance and the ability of clubs to attract players and invest in facilities.
How Does The Championship Compare With League One And League Two?
The EFL Championship is distinct from League One and League Two in terms of quality, finances, and match intensity. While League One and League Two also feature 24 teams each and a similar 46-game schedule, the Championship’s clubs generally boast larger budgets, higher attendance figures, and greater media coverage.
Promotion and relegation between these leagues create a fluid system where clubs can rise or fall, but the Championship remains the toughest hurdle before reaching the top division.
What Makes The Championship “The Toughest League In World Football”?
The sheer volume of matches—46 per club—combined with the physical and mental demands of competing against well-resourced teams, makes the Championship one of the most challenging leagues globally.
Its unpredictability, with multiple different winners and promoted teams each year, plus the financial and prestige rewards on offer, create an environment where consistency and resilience are paramount.
Conclusion
The EFL Championship league in the United Kingdom features a demanding schedule of 46 games per season per club, reflecting a rigorous and fiercely competitive environment in the English Football League system. Its structure ensures every team plays a balanced home and away programme against 23 opponents, creating 552 intense matches across the season.
Promotion and relegation battles combined with the high stakes of the playoffs make the Championship uniquely compelling. With substantial attendances, significant financial backing through sponsorship, and historic clubs constantly vying for top honours, the Championship remains the toughest and most watched second division league in the world.
For players, coaches, and fans, understanding the volume and intensity of these championship games is key to appreciating why the Championship holds such a pivotal place in English football as of 2025.
